More

    Autism: What is it and how does it affect someone?

    Many experts are lead to believe that autism presents itself in the first three years of life. It can affect normal brain function, affecting the person’s overall development as well as their social and communication skills. In fact, according to the CDC, an average of 1 out of 68 children in the United States alone can be affected by autism. Although there are different causes, experts are led to believe that genetics is the main cause.

    ASD or Autism?

    Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD is synonymous with autism. It refers to a developmental dysfunction that’s caused by a brain abnormality, thus, causing the person to have social and verbal difficulties. People suffering from this disorder can also have trouble adjusting to sudden minor or significant changes in routine.

    What is Asperger’s Syndrome?

    Asperger’s Syndrome is a form of autism and usually labeled as a “high functioning” type because people who have this can have average or higher IQs. They typically encounter few problems in speech but can still find challenges in understanding language and emotions.

    [su_note note_color=”#efefef”]Also read: Causes, Symptoms And the Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease[/su_note]

    A wide spectrum disorder

    Autism has different symptoms that may vary, meaning that some people will present with entirely mild symptoms compared to others that are more severe.

    Social interaction

    The communication style of people with ASD can be entirely different. If the symptoms are usually mild, they can be known to make remarks that can be offensive to others, or have clumsy replies that can be out of sync with everyone else. They also tend to make very minimal eye contact and miss obvious cues people normally give to catch another person’s attention.

    Empathy

    Most ASD sufferers find it hard to empathize with another person’s feelings. Empathy never comes naturally to them. However, with constant reminding and practice, this can gradually improve over time. They also tend to talk so much about a particular topic, and have the tendency to dominate the entire conversation.

    Physical contact

    Physical contact is an amazing thing, but most people with ASD find it somewhat uncomfortable. However, this is not always the case, as some find themselves enjoying a warm hug of a loved one. However, it may require constant practice and those suffering from ASD will generally need to anticipate when the contact will happen.

    Response to noises, lights, and smells

    A person with autism doesn’t like loud noises, sudden changes in lighting, and certain scents. However, to them, it’s not the noise, lights, or smells themselves that cause them to behave in a shocked manner, but rather the element of surprise these bring.

    The way they speak

    Those with ASD may have a tone of voice that always sounds formal, and in more severe cases, they cannot speak at all. Others may also suffer from a condition called echolalia, where they repeat phrases or words they often hear.

    Behaviors that are repetitive

    Certain repetitive, predictable and routine behaviors sound so mundane to us, but for a person with autism, these may be preferred. For an average person, it’s not a big deal to encounter changes in procedures. However, do that with a person with ASD, and they’ll easily become upset.

    Social and language skills may develop late

    In children with ASD, cognitive skills may develop relatively fast, however, their social and communication skills are lagging behind.

    Unpredictable learning

    There are times where bouts of learning can be so unpredictable. For example, individuals with autism may learn faster than most people do, only to forget all about it after some time.

    Manifestation of tics

    Tics are somewhat jerky movements that are relatively common for ASD sufferers. While most can control these physical movements from happening, others cannot.

    [su_note note_color=”#efefef”]Also read: How to take care of people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease at home[/su_note]

    Is there a cure for autism?

    There is relatively no known ‘cure’ for autism. However, it doesn’t mean that there are no treatments involved that can improve their overall quality of life. Autism, known as a “spectrum” condition, can present itself in varying characteristics and combinations that can’t be entirely generalized. That is why you may wonder why an excellent treatment plan that works for one person with ASD may not be as effective with another. People have different profiles as well as sets of needs that require further attention.

    If you want to seek professional help, you can consult a professional Psychologist for coaching and counseling to help your loved one with ASD overcome specific issues affecting their mental health and emotional being. Getting the help they need can  lead to a more productive and healthy life for years to come.

    Janice Killey
    Janice Killey
    Janice has a wealth of experience and training. She holds a Diploma of Education, Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), Master of Arts (Counselling), Diploma of Clinical Hypnotherapy (ASH) and is a Registered Psychologist at Psychologists Southern Sydney. She’s also a member of the Australian Psychological Society.

    Get in Touch

    Related Articles

    Get in Touch

    8,361FansLike
    13,264FollowersFollow
    1,627FollowersFollow
    9,823FollowersFollow

    Latest Posts